Now the fun part! Before your session, I will email you with some session and clothing tips. I am not a stickler about what you wear, my #1 goal will always be for you to be comfortable and stress-free. I simply provide tips on what photographs the best.
I also email an optional questionnaire for you to think about and share any goals or visions you have, so that I can plan the perfect session for you.
03 Prep
All packages come with the specified number of high resolution images with full print release, so you are welcome to print them at your favorite lab. However, print quality can vary from place to place so I highly recommend investing in professional quality prints
For your convenience you have access to these prints and products through your gallery, along with additional digitals, and I'm happy to schedule a meet up to assist you in ordering.
06 Order any à la carte products (Optional)
The Process
Frequently Asked Questions
General
General - 3-4 weeks before is a good goal, but that’s flexible depending on the season.
Maternity - I recommend sessions take place at 30-32 weeks.
Newborns - For true, sleepy newborn sessions aim for 7-14 days old, however, older babies we can still get beautiful newborn photos, they're just awake more & not always as poseable. To assure availability contact me with your due date so that I can leave openings to make sure I can get you in.
In a perfect world we would set all outdoor sessions to take place just after sunrise and just before sunset. However, I don’t live in a perfect world, maybe you do (and if so, I am jealous). So, I work with you and your family to arrange a time that fits everyone’s needs. We don’t want kids missing nap times or up past their regular bedtime, that just makes for sad, cranky kids. Obviously, with Alaska sunrise and sunset can be hard depending on the time of year. I aim not to shoot right in the middle of the day, it can be done, but it’s uncomfortable and limits shooting possibilities.
For studio sessions we have full flexibility because I make my light :-)
Pre-Session
On Location session – Sure! As long as it doesn’t violate the rules of the location. Consider whether your pet will interfere in your photos, only you know your pets. Side note, if it’s a snake or something creepy crawly I may maintain a farther distance!
In studio, it depends on the animal, I have to keep in mind allergies that other clients may have so contact me, and we will see what we can do.
Session Day
If the weather looks to be unfavorable, I will be in contact with you to 1-2 days before to discuss the situation, and we will work it out. Sometimes weather reschedules are a must but I will be as flexible as possible to fit the session back in.
Alternatively, you can move your session to a studio session, or if it fits your goals an indoor lifestyle session in your home.
First of all, it is okay!!! Relax, we got this!! I have two sons, and lots of experience with children. I don’t make them just sit and smile, I incorporate fun and activity to get them into the session, & I embrace some of those “uncooperative moments” to let them lead and snap the candid shots that show this stage of their life and their personalities. I love children and I will work with them patiently, so you do not need to stress. Kids can be unpredictable, and they have bad days, just like us and that is OKAY!
If for some reason they are just having a terrible day and nothing we do helps them, we will work together to fix the situation, but this is rare, and often you will be surprised at the photos we are actually getting.
You have complete control of your privacy. In my contract there is a “model release” that allows you to choose whether you are okay with me using your photos on my business social media, and website, for my marketing and portfolio purposes. I know how important privacy is, and I understand there are situations where some would be uncomfortable with this. That said, I love to brag on my clients, and share the fun we have, and when the model release consent is given, I take measures to protect privacy and exposure, some examples for use would be website portfolio, social media posts, and future session advertisements.
Unless prior arrangements are made, final images will be placed in a private online gallery that will be e-mailed directly to you for you to share with whom you wish.
Photo Delivery
You will receive a link to your private online gallery where you may download up to your package amount, or upgrade to receive additional digitals and/or prints.
Alternatively, I am happy to schedule a time for you to come to the studio, and we can walk through it together and get you everything you need. I also offer a USB drive with your favorites for a small fee.
Prints may be picked up at the studio, or I will mail or deliver them to you.
Your gallery will include all culled, edited, processed digital photos for viewing only, generally 30-50 photos. You then choose your favorites and based off the session you booked download the set number of files, at that time you may also upgrade to download additional digitals, or the full gallery.
Consult packages for more information.
The gallery photos will be fully processed and edited when you receive them. I cull (remove unflattering poses or faces, closed eyes, etc) then process the best of the best for you to choose from. In my processing, I hand edit every photo for the perfect bright and bold coloring, and spot touch blemishes.
I generally go by if it’s a temporary feature (zit, bruises) then I remove it. If it’s a normal feature (moles, birthmarks, scars) I do not remove it, unless requested beforehand, then I usually can accommodate your request at no additional cost.
I do not do heavy, glamour, runway model style retouching. It isn’t my style and while I think it can be done beautifully, it just isn’t for me. I like to capture you and your family in a natural, lifestyle way, more the way you would be in everyday life. I also don’t remove unwanted pounds in post-processing; however, I will pose you and use the best lenses and angles to help in that category. 😉
This gets confusing to some. I retain the copyright to all images I photograph; however, you receive FULL personal PRINTING rights. Basically, this means, I am the only one allowed to alter or profit from my work in any way, as to maintain photos that represent my brand. If you share them with any businesses, they must credit back to me. No money may be made in any way from the photos without a release from me.
Your printing rights allow you to print your photos at any lab, (although I highly recommend for the best quality to order through me or another professional quality lab), as many times and as large as you would like. This also allows you to share them on social media, share them with friends and family, as long as no alterations are made to the photos, aside from basic cropping to fit prints or layouts better.
Rescheduling
Posing
While most of my sessions are more un-posed in the traditional sense, I will guide and prompt you on what photographs best and prompt you on what to do when, how to stand, walk, etc. in the most flattering manner. So, you don’t have to worry or think about what to do. For any traditional poses I will guide you and make sure you are comfortable and look amazing.
Payment
For most sessions, a $50 retainer is required to book your session. You may choose to pay the full session invoice then or pay the remaining balance at the time of the session.
Special event Mini Sessions are due in full at the time of booking.
Any upgrades (digitals, prints, etc) must be paid for at the time order is placed.
Social Media/Web